Sadler's autumn meet suddenly rebounds

ARCADIA, Calif. – In the span of 35 minutes Sunday, Edwards Going Left and Artistic Diva salvaged trainer John Sadler’s autumn meeting at Santa Anita.

Going into Sunday’s program, Sadler had one win from 28 starters, with six second-place finishes and a third. In Sunday’s second race, Edwards Going Left won an optional claimer against open company at 6 1/2 furlongs. In the third race, Artistic Diva won her stakes debut in the Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Both runners are owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis and could start in stakes at the Del Mar autumn meeting. Edwards Going Left is a candidate for the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for California-breds at seven furlongs Nov. 19. Edwards Going Left was third in the Real Good Deal Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds July 28 at Del Mar.

Artistic Diva led throughout the Anoakia Stakes at six furlongs, winning by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:10.84 as a 5-1 shot. Unbeaten in two starts, Artistic Diva had her main-track debut in the Anoakia. She won a five-furlong maiden race on turf at Del Mar in August in her debut.

“I think she can run on either” surface, Sadler said. “I don’t feel like I had her 100 percent fit.”

Sadler said Artistic Diva may start in the $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes at seven furlongs Nov. 18 at Del Mar.

“We’ll play it by ear as we get closer,” he said.